House of Lords Appointments Commission

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on the establishment of an independent Appointments Commission to nominate Cross Bench Peers to the interim House, as set out in the White Paper on House of Lords Reform.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: PricewaterhouseCoopers have been appointed to assist in the recruitment of the Chairman and independent members of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
	The firm of recruitment consultants successfully tendered for the job of trawling and sifting applications and identifying suitable candidates, who must be politically impartial, for the Chair and the three independent members of the Commission. The appointments will be done under the principles of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
	As well as using their expertise to identify potential candidates, they will be running a national press advertising campaign to attract as many suitably qualified people as possible from the widest possible field.
	The Appointments Commission will take over from the Prime Minister the function of nominating all Cross-Bench Peers to the House of Lords. It is expected to be in place by late spring.

Council of Europe and WEU Assemblies:UK Delegation

Baroness Crawley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will announce the full composition of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: The United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Western European Union is as follows:
	The Right Honourable Terry Davis MP (Leader)
	
		
			 Full Representatives Substitute Members 
			 David Atkinson MP Malcolm Bruce MP 
			 Sir Sydney Chapman MP The Right Honourable The Lord Clinton-Davis 
			 Michael Colvin MP Ms Ann Cryer MP 
			 Tom Cox MP Michael Hancock CBE MP 
			 Lawrence Cunliffe MP Robert Jackson MP 
			 Bill Etherington MP Ms Jenny Jones MP 
			  
			 Paul Flynn MP The Lord Judd 
			 Ms Maria Fyfe MP The Baroness Knight of Collingtree DBE 
			 The Lord Kirkhill The Lord Lucas of Crudwell 
			 Kevin McNamara MP Ms Christine McCafferty MP 
			 Jim Marshall MP Gwyn Prosser MP 
			 Edward O'Hara MP Sydney Rapson MP 
			 The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede Ms Geraldine Smith MP 
			 The Lord Russell-Johnston David Taylor MP 
			 John D Taylor MP Rudi Vis MP 
			 John Townend MP John Wilkinson MP 
			 Jimmy Wray MP David Wilshire MP 
			  Anthony Wright MP

NHS Trust Appointments

Baroness Jeger: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who appoints members of Hospital Trusts: what are their responsibilities and remuneration; and what qualifications they require.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Secretary of State for Health is responsible for the appointment of chairs and non-executives to the boards of National Health Service Trusts in England. The responsibilities of chairs and non-executives and the skills and qualities required are set out in the information pack sent to all people who express an interest in these posts, copies of which are in the Library.
	Annual remuneration for chairs is set at three levels, based on the turnover of the trust: band 1 at £19,825; band 2 at £17,625; and band 3 at £15,550. All non-executive board members are entitled to receive remuneration of £5,140 per annum.

Critical Care: Lines to Take: NHS Document

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to make the document, Critical Care: Lines to Take, issued to National Health Service administrators, readily available to the general public; and
	Whether the statements contained in the document, Critical Care: Lines to Take, issued to National Health Service administrators, are a true reflection of the current state of the National Health Service.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The document referred to is an internal briefing paper. By convention, such papers are not published.

CJD and Fertility Treatment

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many deaths from iatrogenic CJD have been recorded in women who have received fertility treatment in the United Kingdom.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There have been no cases of iatrogenic transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in women who received fertility treatment in the United Kingdom.
	A case of a woman, resident in the United Kingdom at the time of death, has been linked with fertility treatment received when she lived in Australia. This case is reflected in the monthly figures that are published by the Department of Health.

Organophosphate Working Group: Membership of Professor Blain

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of the statement by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment in their report Organophosphates that "It was considered important . . . that members of the Working Group should not be involved with pending litigation concerning OP's", why Professor P G Blain was appointed a member of the Working Party.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Professor Blain was appointed as a member of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment's Working Group on Organophosphates because he had appropriate expertise and was not involved with any pending litigation.

Primary Care Groups and Maternity Services

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance they have given to primary care groups on the commissioning of maternity services.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Primary care groups, working with health authorities and others, will decide how best to respond to national priorities and local needs within their health improvement programme. This in turn sets the framework within which the health authority and its primary care groups can commission services. Specific guidance was issued in October 1998 (HSC 1998/198), which set out the new arrangements for commissioning all health services, including maternity services.

Hospital Waiting List Reduction: Cost

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much money they have spent since May 1997 to achieve their pledge to reduce in-patient hospital waiting lists by 100,000.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: All National Health Service activity contributes to the waiting list position, either directly or indirectly.
	In 1997-98, NHS spend was £34,664 million; in 1998-99, NHS spend was £36,611 million; and during 1999-2000, we plan to spend £39,831 million.

Arms Sales Export Credits Ban

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With which countries, since 1990, they have ended export credit support for arms sales.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Chancellor announced on 11 January 2000 a unilateral UK ban on export credits in respect of "unproductive expenditure" to 63 of the world's poorest countries. This initiative follows the UK's unilateral two-year ban on export credits for unproductive expenditure to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries announced in September 1997. This is now being extended indefinitely and widened to cover all countries which are only eligible to borrow from the World Bank on highly concessional terms.
	Projects supported in future should be measured against the following indicative criteria:
	assist social and economic development; or be of maximum benefit to areas most affected by poverty; or tackle problem areas where private investment is not available; or wherever possible, earn foreign exchange; or encourage viable self financing projects. These principles need not necessarily preclude ECGD support for the sale of defence or dual use equipment provided that such equipment is, for example, deemed essential for national security, or required to combat the drugs trade, piracy, smuggling, etc. Support for projects must be cleared with the Department for International Development, which must be satisfied that the expenditure is consistent with the above.
	The full list of countries to which the ban applies is attached.
	The Export Credits Ban Will Cover: 1 Afghanistan 2 Albania 3 Angola 4 Bangladesh 5 Benin 6 Bhutan 7 Bolivia 8 Burkina Faso 9 Burundi 10 Cambodia 11 Cameroon 12 Cape Verde 13 Central African Republic 14 Chad 15 Comoros 16 Cote d'Ivoire 17 Democratic Republic of Congo 18 Djibouti 19 Equatorial Guinea 20 Eritrea 21 Ethiopia 22 Ghana 23 Guinea 24 Guinea-Bissau 25 Guyana 26 Haiti 27 Honduras 28 Kenya 29 Kiribati 30 Lao People's Democratic Republic 31 Lesotho 32 Liberia 33 Madagascar 34 Malawi 35 Maldives 36 Mali 37 Mauritania 38 Mongolia 39 Mozambique 40 Myanmar 41 Nepal 42 Nicaragua 43 Niger 44 Republic of Congo 45 Republic of Yemen 46 Rwanda 47 Samoa 48 Sao Tome and Principe 49 Senegal 50 Sierra Leone 51 Solomon Islands 52 Somalia 53 Sri Lanka 54 Sudan 55 Tajikistan 56 Tanzania 57 The Gambia 58 Togo 59 Tonga 60 Uganda 61 Vanuatu 62 Vietnam 63 Zambia

Field Boundary Widths and IACS Rules

Earl Peel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they intend to take to ensure that farmers who have planted grass strips, and other cover, to widen their field boundaries and enhance biodiversity, are not penalised by a withdrawal of area payment, as envisaged in the latest Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) Rules.

Baroness Hayman: IACS rules have always allowed farmers in the United Kingdom to use the full field areas which are shown on Ordnance Survey maps as the basis of their claims under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) provided that their fields are fully utilised. If this condition is not fulfilled, then only that part of the total area which is actually cropped can be claimed. The use of total field areas is of considerable benefit to our farmers but it can only be justified if the extent of uncropped areas around field margins, including the area occupied by any hedges which may be present, is kept within reasonable limits.
	AAPS applicants have recently been notified about new guidance from the European Commission about the maximum width of field margins that is consistent with the use of full Ordnance Survey areas in aid applications. We recognise the concern that the application of the rules could in some circumstances have an adverse effect on the width of field boundaries and their biodiversity. We have, therefore, also urged applicants to seek advice about minimising the environmental impact of any action they may need to take in order to comply with the new guidance.

School Milk Scheme

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they would participate in the continuation of the School Milk Scheme if it involved co-financing.

Baroness Hayman: The Government are currently considering the proposal from the Commission to Council on the future financing of the EC School Milk Scheme. Our position remains unchanged, in that we prefer the continuation of the scheme in its present form.

Food Labelling

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made towards a new labelling regime for food products

Baroness Hayman: The Government are committed to giving consumers clear, easily understood information so they can make informed choices about the food they buy. We have already taken a number of steps for labelling ingredients derived from genetically modified crops and for labelling the quantities of key ingredients. We are encouraging the development of voluntary industry guidelines aimed at providing better, more consistent information to those consumers with specific allergies and will continue to press for appropriate changes to European and international rules.
	We are also launching a new initiative to stimulate public debate on food labelling and find out what information ordinary consumers want to be given about the food they buy. We will also be considering different ways of making information available, including the use of modern technology, and whether new approaches are called for to deal with internet shopping. We are funding consumer research into these questions. We shall be holding open meetings and inviting consumers to write or e-mail us with their views.
	The results of this exercise will feed into the work of the Food Standards Agency, to which the Government have given responsibility for developing food labelling policy. The aim is to improve the clarity of information for consumers, and help establish appropriate labelling regimes at national and international level.

Yugoslavia: Export of Demining Equipment

Baroness Nicol: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will grant a licence for the export of a Load Handling System and Container Unit to Norwegian People's Aid in Kosovo.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have granted a licence for the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of a Load Handling System and Container Unit for use by Norwegian People's Aid, an organisation engaged in humanitarian demining activities in Kosovo on behalf of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). These goods are on the UK's Military List.
	UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1160 imposed an arms embargo on the FRY. The only exception to this embargo is that in UNSCR 1244, which provides that prohibitions imposed by UNSCR 1160 shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related material for use by the international civil and security presence in Kosovo. We have notified the UN Sanctions Committee of this export and it has raised no objection. The export of the equipment required for demining purposes is not prohibited by the EU arms embargo.

Kosovo Joint Interim Administrative Council

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to secure the participation of a Serb representative on the new United Nations Mission in Kosovo--Kosovo Joint Interim Administrative Structure.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Her Majesty's Government have supported, and continue to support, the United Nations Mission in Kosovo's attempts to convince the Kosovo Serb leadership of the desirability of their participation in the Joint Interim Administration Council. In discussions with Serbs in Kosovo we take every opportunity to urge them to participate in the shaping of the province.

Kosovo: UK Support to UNMIK

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What response they envisage to the request by the United Nations Special Representative in Kosovo, Dr Bernard Kouchner, who in December 1999 told the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, "We need money. Without money, no success. . . without money, no confidence. . . without money, no restarting of daily life".

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We agree that UNMIK needs adequate resources to accomplish its mission. We continue to make a significant contribution and urge others in the international community to do likewise.
	The UK pays 6.2 per cent of UN-assessed contributions to UNMIK. We were one of the first nations to contribute bilaterally, giving US$1 million to UNMIK in July 1999. The Department for International Development (DfID) has also contributed US$2 million to support demobilisation of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and has allocated US$1 million for projects to be carried out by the newly formed Kosovo Protection Corps. DfID has recently contributed £1.25 million for civil registration to prepare for elections in Kosovo later this year.
	At the international donors' conference in Brussels last November, the UK announced that it would be devoting up to US$10 million in budgetary support to UNMIK this year. The European Commission announced an EU contribution of up to 35 million euros in budgetary support as part of a broader assistance package for economic reconstruction which could reach some 500 million euros in 2000.

Kosovo: Police Secondments

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of the promised 4,800 international police officers due for deployment in Kosovo are now in place; and how many are from the United Kingdom.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are 1,972 international police officers now in place, 60 of whom are from the United Kingdom. A further 31 British police officers are working at the OSCE-run police school in Kosovo, training the future local police force.

East Timor: UNTAET Funding

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) is adequately resourced to cope with the country's transition to independence.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In its Resolution 1272, the UN Security Council authorised a manpower contribution of up to 8,950 troops, 200 military observers and 1,640 civilian police officers for UNTAET as recommended by the Secretary General. The priority now is to ensure rapid deployment of civilian police and other civilian staff. The UK has deployed 14 civilian police and four military observers to the territory. In addition, a UN-World Bank donor meeting held in Tokyo last December received pledges of US$ 520 million for East Timor's reconstruction, development and humanitarian needs over the next three years. The UK committed US$ 20 million, in addition to our earlier commitment of £5.5 million for humanitarian relief and £1 million to support UNTAET. We are pressing for early and effective disbursement of this.

Peers Appointed to Quangos, Task Forces and Working Parties

Lord Strathclyde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list, with dates of appointment and of service, Members of the House of Lords who have, since May 1997, served on, or been appointed to:
	(a) non-departmental public bodies;
	(b) government-appointed task forces; and
	(c) government-appointed working parties;
	or who have acted as ministerial special advisers, including in the lists for all categories both those who were Members of the House of Lords at the time of appointment or during service, and those who have been made Members of the House of Lords subsequently.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I regret that detailed information in the form requested is not held centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The names of current members of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), including those government task forces which are classified as advisory NDPBs, are available on the net at www.quango.gov.uk.
	The following Members of the House of Lords are currently members of Government task forces, reviews and other ad hoc advisory groups.
	
		
			 Body Member of the House of Lords 
			 Advisory Group to Consider and Recommend on an Appropriate New Statue or Work of Art for the Vacant Plinth in Trafalgar Square (DCMS) Baroness Rendell of Babergh CBE 
			  
			 Cleaner Vehicles Task Force (DETR) Rt Hon Lord Macdonald of Tradeston (Minister for Transport, DETR) 
			  
			 Company Law Review Consultative Committee (DTI) Rt Hon Lord Newton of Braintree OBE 
			  
			 Creative Industries Task Force (DCMS) Lord Alli Rt Hon Baroness of Jay of Paddington (Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women) Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, FCO) 
			  
			 Human Rights Task Force (HO) Lord Harris of Haringey 
			 Information Age Partnership (DTI) Lord Simpson of Dunkeld 
			  
			 Interchange Steering Council (Cabinet Office) Lord Haskins 
			  
			 Ministerial Task Force on the Government's Response to the Children's Safeguards Review (DH) Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC (Minister of State, Cabinet Office) Lord Warner 
			  
			 Panel 2000 Advisory Group (FCO) Lord Alli Baroness Blackstone (Minister for Education and Employment, DfEE) Rt Hon Baroness Chalker of Wallasey Rt Hon Lord Clinton-Davis Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge Lord Paul Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, FCO) 
			  
			 Road Haulage Forum (DETR) Lord Macdonald of Tradeston (Minister for Transport, DETR) 
			  
			 Science and Innovation Strategy Group (DfEE) Baroness Blackstone (Minister for Education and Employment DfEE) Lord Sainsbury of Turville (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, DTI) 
			  
			 Scottish Fee Support Review (DfEE) Lord Burns GCB 
			 Service Families Task Force (MOD) Rt Hon Baroness Hollis of Heigham (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DSS) 
			  
			 Standards Task Force (DfEE) Lord Puttnam CBE 
			  
			 Steering Group on the Lawrence Inquiry Action Plan (HO) Baroness Howells of St Davids OBE 
			  
			 Task Force for London Transport (DETR) Rt Hon Lord Macdonald of Tradeston (Minister for Transport, DETR) 
			  
			 Thoracic Surgical Services Review (DH) Baroness Emerton DBE 
			  
			 Working Group on Forced Marriage Lord Ahmed Lord Dholakia OBE Baroness Uddin 
			  
		
	
	Since May 1997, the only Special Adviser to have also been a member of the House of Lords was Lord Hollick. Lord Warner became a member of the House of Lords after his appointment as a Special Adviser to the Home Secretary had ended.

Strategic Communications Unit

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who are the current members of the Strategic Communications Unit together with the dates of their appointment.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The SCU is staffed by eight civil servants ranging in grade from B1 (Executive Officer) to SCS. These staff include two special advisers.

Task Forces

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What constitutes a task force.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Task forces are normally short-term bodies set up quickly with a specific remit. Members are drawn from across the voluntary, public and private sectors, and are appointed for their expertise and experience in a particular field.

Task Forces

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend that there should be a presumption in favour of, or a requirement for, the publication of reports of task forces.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is for individual Ministers to determine the publication arrangements for reports prepared by task forces which they have established.

Task Forces

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer of the Lord Falconer of Thoroton that "the success or otherwise of a task force will be determined by the quality of decision taken by the Minister or government department" (HL Deb, 11 January, col. 525), whether it can be inferred that relevant Ministers are wholly responsible for the output of task forces appointed by them.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Ministers have a duty to Parliament to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions of their departments and Next Steps agencies. This includes accounting for the work of task forces. Those task forces which are classified as non-departmental public bodies are accountable directly to Parliament through their sponsoring department.

Wembley Stadium: Lottery Funding Agreement

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the Lottery Agreement between the English Sports Council and the English National Stadium Development Company Limited and the Football Association Limited.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Lottery Funding Agreement is a contract between Sport England, Wembley National Stadium Limited, and the Football Association and publication of the contract is primarily for the parties to the contract.

Non-EU Imports: Duties Received

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the value, for the last full year for which data was available, of all the duties, levies and tariffs on imports from non-European Union countries into the United Kingdom imposed on goods (including agricultural produce) and commercial services.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: It is estimated that in 1998, the UK received some £2.8 billion in respect of customs duties and excise duties on goods (including agricultural products) imported into the UK from outside the European Union. Services are not subject to duties.

Devolved Administrations: Guidance to Officials

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance has been prepared for officials on dealings with the devolved administrations.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Memorandum of Understanding (published as Cm 4444) and supporting concordats provide the basis for relationships between Her Majesty's Government and the Scottish Executive and National Assembly for Wales. A number of guidance notes have also been prepared on more detailed aspects of those relationships, covering:
	Common working arrangements
	Correspondence
	Role of Secretary of State for Scotland
	Role of Secretary of State for Wales
	Inter-ministerial and inter-departmental correspondence
	Post-devolution primary legislation affecting Scotland
	These documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and the texts are available on the Cabinet Office internet web site (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/constitution/2000/devolution).
	The note on common working arrangements has been agreed between the Government, the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales. The Northern Ireland Executive Committee will be invited to consider its terms once it has agreed to become a party to the Memorandum of Understanding.
	The other guidance notes are UK government documents; but the devolved administrations have seen the notes in draft form and have noted their terms.
	Further guidance notes will be issued in due course. A list of these currently under preparation has also been lodged in the House Libraries.

Prison Service and Human Rights Act 1998

Baroness Stern: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What training is being given to the Prison Service on the implications for its work of the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: All staff in the Prison Service and others working in prisons will be provided with information about the Human Rights Act 1998. Senior managers and key policy staff will be given training on the implications of the Act for their work. Existing Prison Service training courses on legal issues already include material on the Act.

Boeing 747 Crash, Essex: Missing Depleted Uranium Counterweights

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they have taken to account for the DU (depleted uranium) missing after the Boeing 747 crash in Essex in December 1999; and what steps they have taken to meet the fears of nearby inhabitants as to effects similar to those of Gulf War Syndrome.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Sixteen of the 20 depleted uranium counterweights from the Korean B747 crash site have been recovered. A radiological survey of the crash site is being conducted and it is expected that this will lead to the recovery of the others. It has been established from the condition of the recovered counterweights and the evidence of the fire damage that there has been no airborne dispersal of uranium from the crash site. Nearby inhabitants therefore have nothing to fear on this account.
	I understand that newsletters are being provided to address the concerns of local people by the Essex County Council Emergency Planning Department. The recent meeting of the Airport Consultative Committee was opened to the public to provide an opportunity for the local people to voice their concerns and ask questions, and I understand that the Airport Operator is organising further public meetings in the area.

Jubilee Line Signal Failures

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many occasions since 1 December 1999 the Jubilee Line service has been disrupted by signal failure.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: This is an operational matter for LU. However, I understand from London Underground that between 1 December 1999 and 6 January 2000 there were a total of 26 incidents of delay attributable to failure of Jubilee Line signalling equipment. Of these, nine were of over 15 minutes duration and the rest between two and 15 minutes.
	It is anticipated that the introduction of new systems on complex transport projects will entail the progressive elimination of technical problems. This work is in progress in particular on signalling, and should improve performance significantly over time.

Vehicles Taken Off Roads

Lord Blaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the number of (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles which were permanently taken off the roads of the United Kingdom in the latest year for which figures are available.

Lord Whitty: The estimated numbers of cars and goods vehicles taken off the roads in Great Britain in 1998 are shown below. Equivalent data for Northern Ireland are not available.
	Cars: 1,800,000
	Goods vehicles: 50,700 The estimate is made by calculating the change in licensed stock of these vehicles between the end of 1997 and the end of 1998 and subtracting this figure from the number of vehicles first registered in 1998.

Vehicles Purchased

Lord Blaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the number of new (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles which were purchased in the United Kingdom in the latest year for which figures are available.

Lord Whitty: The estimated numbers of new cars and goods vehicles purchased in Great Britain in 1998 are shown below. Equivalent figures for Northern Ireland are not available.
	Cars: 2,261,600
	Goods vehicles: 49,100 These estimates are based on the numbers of vehicles that were newly registered in 1998. The totals will include some vehicles which were purchased in 1998 but which were subsequently scrapped or privately exported.

Education Adjudicator's Costs

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who will be required to meet the costs which were awarded against Mr Peter Downes, an Education Adjudicator, when he lost a case brought against him by Wandsworth local education authority.

Baroness Blackstone: The Office of the Schools Adjudicator will meet the costs of this case. In accordance with Schedule 5 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Secretary of State will indemnify the Adjudicator for these costs.

Access Funds and Hardship Loans: Review

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the outcome of the review of Access Funds and Hardship Loans.

Baroness Blackstone: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has today announced a package of extra measures for 2000-01 and 2001-02 to widen access to higher education and tackle student hardship in England and Wales. The full year cost of the package has been estimated at £68 million. This honours the commitment he gave to Parliament on 13 July 1998 to monitor the new student support arrangements introduced after the Dearing Report. It also builds on the findings of the review of access funds and hardship loans carried out last autumn.
	The system of student support is working well: full-time entrants to higher education have increased by nearly 5,000 this year and more money is now going into universities and colleges. The system is fair and equitable to students, families, and the taxpayer. But our review highlighted the specific financial concerns of older students, notably the costs of childcare, especially for lone parents, school meals, and travel. The review also found that mature students, in particular, need guarantees of financial support if they are to undertake and complete courses of higher education. These new measures target extra help at full-time mature students, disadvantaged young people and parents on low incomes with children in higher education.
	In 2000-01, £17 million will be set aside for non-repayable access funds bursaries for mature students of up to £1,000 per student, according to need, available at the start of the academic year. Further support, depending on circumstances, will also be available from a hardship fund of £57 million for students who run into financial difficulties during the course. Hardship loans will remain available to mature students but they will no longer have to take out a hardship loan before receiving support from the hardship fund. We will additionally provide an income-assessed grant to meet the cost of school meals for students with dependent children aged 4 to 16. We have also decided to ease substantially the income assessment for mature students, who will now be able to have £7,500 of their income disregarded without losing entitlement to student support, instead of a minimum of £820.
	In 2001-02, three further measures will be introduced to widen access and tackle hardship. We will raise the parental contribution threshold from £17,370 (at 1999-2000 rates) to £20,000, which will mean that around 50,000 more families on modest incomes will no longer have to contribute towards their children's higher education. We shall also review the other contribution thresholds. Up to £10 million will be available for non-repayable bursaries through access funds of up to £1,000 for young students from disadvantaged backgrounds, building on schemes already developing at a number of universities. Both these measures will help students from families on low incomes with no history of entry to higher education. We will provide further help for mature students by introducing a means-tested childcare grant, based on the actual costs of childcare of up to £100 a week per child, for those with dependent children, which will be fully disregarded by the Department of Social Security for benefits purposes.
	Where necessary, we will make amendments to the Education (Student Support) Regulations 1999 and the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1999 to give effect to these changes for 2000-01. Amendments to regulations to give effect to the changes for 2001-02 will also be made in due course. Changes to the guidance on the use of the access and hardship funds will be given to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and individual higher education institutions, shortly.